All season, Billy Hart has been telling anyone who would listen that DeLaSalle was the state's best football team.
With a 35-14 victory over two-time defending state champion Hutchinson in the Class 4A state semifinal on Saturday, Hart and DeLaSalle came one step closer to proving that's true.
"We've talked about legacy and what you want to leave behind," Hart said. "This senior class has been determined to bring a state title back to DeLaSalle."
DeLaSalle scored 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull off the upset in the game at Prior Lake, ending No. 1-ranked Hutchinson's 37-game win streak dating to 2011.
After the game, Hutchinson coach Andy Rostberg said he told players "to try to look at the book they've written. This is a bad chapter, but there's been a lot of good chapters over the past three or four years."
Hart threw two touchdown passes and had just one incomplete pass in the second half. He totaled 291 yards — 123 rushing and 168 passing.
"It was about who wanted it more," said senior receiver Isaac Hodge, who had eight catches for 87 yards. "We weren't done playing football."
DeLaSalle (11-1) opened up a 13-0 lead on Hutchinson (11-1) on back-to-back rushing touchdowns by freshman Sage Booker, who filled in for injured senior tailback James King Jr.
Trailing for the first time this season, Hutchinson countered with senior running back Robbie Grimsley. He blocked an extra point, caught a 49-yard touchdown, forced and recovered a fumble, and ran in a touchdown to help put the Tigers ahead 14-13 at the half.
But the second half was all Islanders.
Hart hit Hodge for a 25-yard touchdown and converted a two-point conversion throw to Marquise Bridges that put DeLaSalle ahead 21-14. Then Hart scored untouched from 5 yards out, making it 28-14 with 6:50 left. A 94-yard interception return by Bridges with 3:52 to play sealed the victory.
Hart didn't taper his confidence now that his team is a victory away from the title. The Islanders play Becker on Friday at TCF Bank Stadium.
"They just better watch out," he said.
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